It's Christmas in June at the Siesta Chamber

It takes Santa Claus about 15 minutes to complete his 1.4-mile journey atop a float through Siesta Key Village, climb down from his sleigh and mount his yuletide throne to collect Christmas wishes from eager children during the annual Siesta holiday parade.

It’s a pretty short trip for a celebration for which members of various Siesta organizations are already preparing. But, with organizers hoping to nab 30 floats for the parade and only 14 confirmed so far, time is precious.

Members of the Siesta Key Chamber of Commerce, the Siesta Key Village Association and the Siesta Key Association sat hunched over a glass dining table Tuesday, June 12, in the offices of Smith Architects and Cheryl Gaddie Designs on the north end of the Village. The crew of seven analyzed various route options and discussed how to attract more floats. Minutia such as the distance between Santa’s Village and performing gymnasts shows how much detail goes into the planning process — the fake snow that accompanies Saint Nick becomes a liability for the gymnasts if it touches tumbling mats.

Before Osborne can begin coordinating a strategy for the event, which will require a brief closure of Ocean Boulevard and Beach Road, backers must confirm a route and an estimate of the number of floats participating.

“It’s hard right now for people to commit, but they’ve got to understand this will be here before you know it,” said Russell Matthes, vice president of the chamber and president of SKVA. He compared the lengthy planning process of the parade to that of the Siesta Key Fourth of July fireworks show.

Participants must fill out a liability waiver, said SKA Vice President Peter van Roekens. Some of the antique cars that appeared in the parade last year showed up unannounced.

Staging for the parade will take place on Beach Road side streets just north of the main Siesta Beach access. Organizers plan to have the floats dismantled north of the Village, so onlookers at SunTrust Bank and the Old Salty Dog will share the experience, unlike last year when the parade ended before reaching those locations. However, Santa Claus will likely disembark near the sheriff substation where his “workshop” will be.

It’s possible that there will not be a trolley in the parade this year. Matthes told meeting attendees he was uncertain if his firm, SMG, would still own a trolley at the time of the parade.

“It’s relatively easy to get 20 (floats), but we really have to get 30,” Gaddie said.

If they don’t get a float for Santa Claus, then they plan potentially have him driven in by a fire truck, which was the case last year.

Parade organizers don’t have any live music confirmed and are seeking bands to play during the parade, said Gaddie. Photographers are another need, for promotional and unexpected humorous happenings.

“(Last year) we had to push the fire truck, and nobody got a picture,” van Roekens said.

Thousands of spectators came out for last year’s parade, and organizers are hoping for another packed and jolly Village.

“We need sponsors and we need participants — period,” Gaddie said.